People will probably buy the pirated versions to avoid the download and burning, somewhat similar to buying linux from cheapbytes.
I bet most of these people are just curious and want to try it out. Some of us have done this with the download.
Release windows is buggy enough.... who would buy a beta version as a real os?
Anyway, this piracy is good for MS.
1) more free exposure of their products and
2) "proof" that more draconian DRM/activation/palladium/screw_the_customer measures are needed to prevent billions of dollars of revenue being lost.
[ December 01, 2003: Message edited by: M. O'Brien ]